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w. A. SPRAGUE.

- WIRE FENGB. I No. 541,128. Patented June 18, 1895.

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\VILLIAM A. SPRAGUE, OF DOWAGIAC, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO CHARLES H. SPRAGUE AND EARNEST D. SPRAGUE, OF TEXAS, MICHIGAN.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,128, dated June 18, 1895'.

Application filedDecemher 24, 1894:- Serial No. 532,306. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dowagiac, in the county of Cass, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Wire Fence, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of wirefences in which are employed spacing-slats on the line-wires between the posts, and gripblocks on the post to hold said wires after they have been stretched.

The object of the invention is to make a simple, strong fence adapted to better resist lateral pressure, and employing improved grip-blocks all as more fully described and claimed below.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fence; Fig. 2, a vertical section on line 2 2 in Fig. 1, looking from a point at the left; Fig. 3, enlarged broken details from Fig. 1; Fig. 4, enlarged view of grip-blocks from Fig. 1; and Fig. 5, a cross-section on line 3 3 in Fig. 4, looking from a point at the right.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A, B, are anchor-posts set in theground, at each end of a certain length of fence, the wires D, D, between which anchor-posts are to be stretched. These anchor-posts might or might not be at opposite ends of a complete line of fence, but in any event such a distance apart as is customary and convenient to stretch a portion of line-wires D D.

At E, is illustrated intermediate posts set in the ground at regular intervals of say sixteen feet apart, more or less, as desired to give sufficient stability to a line of fence, and whenever anchor-posts are employed which are not terminal posts, they occupy of course the place of intermediate posts whichin regular succession would otherwise occupy their place. The anchor-posts are provided with braces F F, in the ordinary manner of making such braces.

The grip-blocks which I employ for holding the line-wires D D, rigidly attached to the other anchor-post A, after said wires have been stretched, are shown at I, Figs. 1, 4, and 5. These grip-blocks I, consist of a base J, which is bolted to the anchor-post A, at one end, at L, said bolt forming a pivot upon which the grip-block is brought into proper alignment with the line-wires D D, when stretched taut. Said base J,is provided with two grooves N, which grooves preferably converge from each other at the rear end, left hand end, so as to set that portion of the linewire which is in the groove N, at an angle to the regular horizontal angle of the main portion of said line-wire to insure greater firmness of attachment of the wires with the gripblocks. These grip-blocks I, further consist of a cap 0, which cap is provided with like grooves N, registering therewith when said cap and base are placed together as in Figs.

1, 4, and 5. These registering grooves N, are V-shaped, and are of such a size compared with the size of the line-wires D D, that when said wires are gripped between the base J, and cap 0, as in Fig. 5, the lower edges of said cap and base will be separated, while their upper edges touch each other. The object of this is so that the grooves will have four bearing-points in contact with the .periphery of the wires to insure a firmer hold, and water will be excluded from getting between the base and cap to rust the same, and the wires. To this end it will be observed 8 that the wires D D, are inserted in the lower groove and the object of having two grooves, is to admit of using the same grip-blocks on the opposite side of the anchor-post A, if desired, in which case, (in order to have no separation between the cap and base at their upper edge,) the wires would be inserted in the other, and then lower, groove. The gripblock further consists of a binding screwbolt P, which screw-bolt passes through the 5 cap 0, and screws into the base J, Fig. 5..

The intermediate posts E, are provided with staples S, which staples loosely confine the line-wires D D, so that the latter will'be properly spaced, and yet slip through the staples oo when stretching said wires. Between the fixed posts of the fence are upright spacingcleats U T, one on one side of the line-wires D D, and the next one on'the other side, thus alternating as in Fig. 1. The ends of the spacing-cleats U T, are firmly attached to the uppermost and lowermost'line wires D D,

v by tie-wires V, and the line-wires are loosely U- T, perform the same services, and said post i alternates with the cleats in respect tov the particular side of the line wires it is on. The purpose of having the cleats thus alternate is so I that they will be bracing to each other agaihstlateral pressure on the lihe wir'es. I c Having thus described thy jnvenne what I claim as new, and des re to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 15%: i

1. In a Wire-fence, the eehibihetion of an anchor-post, line-wires, and grip-blocks; said grip-blocks eonipris'i hg the base attached to i the post aii'dprovided with the v-grobve's, the cap provided with like V grooVs registering therewith, said grooves being of such a size that they will have four points of contact with the periphery of the line-wires and the upper edge of said base'and cap will be closed,

and a binding bolt loosely passed through the cap and screwed into the base, substantially .as set forth.

2-, In a wire-fence, the combination of an anchor-post, line-wires, and grip-blocks, said blocks comprising the base attached to the post by a pivoting bolt and provided with the V-grooves diverging from each other at the rear end, the cap provided with like grooves registering therewith, said registering grooves being of such a size that they will have four bearing points of contact with the periphery ofthe line-wires and the upper edges of said base and cap being closed against each other, and a binding bolt loosely passed through the "cap and screwed into the base, substantially "as set forth: 

